National Lottery: Armed Forces

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many  (a) successful and  (b) unsuccessful applications for Lottery funding from military and naval charities there were in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what the amount was of Lottery funding  (a) applied for by and  (b) granted to military and naval charities in each year since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Big Lottery Fund has supplied DCMS with the following information:
	
		
			  Applications from and awards to military and naval charities 
			  Decision in year ending 31 March  Applications  Awards  Requested (£)  Awarded (£) 
			 1997 55 6 3,877,585 171,293 
			 1998 57 12 3,672,892 22,477 
			 1999 70 27 2,099,757 155,949 
			 2000 133 53 1,583,599 363,698 
			 2001 121 52 2,099,656 145,042 
			 2002 84 48 2,052,060 205,710 
			 2003 131 65 699,679 235,841 
			 2004 154 112 1,232,810 522,892 
			 2005 479 433 2,331,059 2,767,893 
			 2006 722 640 3,479,621 2,828,672 
			 2007 181 107 1,121,144 557,411 
			 2008 148 70 2,364,196 397,343 
		
	
	In addition, the Heroes Return programme made a number of grants to individual veterans rather than to charities:
	
		
			  Decision in year ending 31 March  Applications  Awards  Requested (£)  Awarded (£) 
			 2005 8,803 8,667 (1)— 8,193,613 
			 2006 5,293 5,167 (1)— 5,956,699 
			 2007 2 2 (1)— 2,975 
			 (1) No meaningful data. 
		
	
	This data was created using a comprehensive relevant word search from the Big Lottery Fund's database as there is not a field that breaks grants down using this categorisation. For this reason a small number of grants to military and naval charities may not have been included. Conversely there may be grants included that have been delivered to related applicants such as Royal British Legion Social Clubs.
	This data includes Awards For All and Home Front Recall Grants.
	The Heritage Lottery Fund has also awarded lottery grants to military and naval charities, but is unable to supply this detailed information within the time allowed. I will write to the hon. Member for Westbury with this additional information and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

Departmental Pay

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer of 4 June 2008,  Official Report, column 922W, on departmental pay, how many and what proportion of employees in his Department who received a performance-related bonus at their 2006-07 appraisal were  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority and  (d) disabled; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: Wales Office staff are on two separate pay and performance systems. Those staff on Welsh Assembly government terms do not receive performance-related bonuses.
	The remaining staff are on the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) system. This is a pay system that recognises good performance by its employees. Performance is assessed under the common Performance management system. For employees whose performance is rated as 'Exceeded' a small bonus is paid along with the annual pay increase. Those who achieve succeeded receive the normal pay increase and those with a 'Not met' marking received no award.
	For the 2006-07 reporting year, there were 28 staff on the MoJ reporting system. Of these, five received a small bonus in addition to the annual pay increase (three male; two female).
	In line with Cabinet Office guidance, the Wales Office does not publish information about disabilities for reasons of privacy. For the same reason I am unable to provide figures for bonuses paid to those staff from an ethnic minority.

Departmental Transport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when his Department's green transport plan was introduced; and if he will place in the Library a copy of this plan.

Paul Murphy: My Department is currently producing a sustainable development action plan (SDAP), which will include a green transport plan, but it is yet to be finalised.
	The Wales Office is a small Department associated with Ministry of Justice (MOJ) for services. Plans for green transport will be compiled by MOJ and include the Wales Office. We plan to place our part of the plan, when completed later this year, on our website
	www.walesoffice.gov.uk
	Staff are already encouraged to use videoconference equipment for meetings between our two sites to negate the need for travel.
	We offset our carbon footprint from travel through PURE, the clean planet trust, a DEFRA recommended company. We are signing up to the DEFRA Government Departments controlled offsetting site.

Olympic Games 2012: Contracts

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many contracts for the 2012 Olympic Games have been awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises in  (a) England,  (b) Wales,  (c) Northern Ireland and  (d) Scotland.

Tessa Jowell: To date, the Olympic Delivery Authority has awarded contracts to over 650 suppliers. The national breakdown showing micro to medium-sized businesses is as follows:
	
		
			   Contracts 
			  England  
			 Medium 118 
			 Small 97 
			 Micro 173 
			   
			  Wales  
			 Medium 0 
			 Small 0 
			 Micro 2 
			   
			  NI (1)— 
			   
			  Scotland  
			 Medium 0 
			 Small 1 
			 Micro 3 
			 (1) One business registered in Northern Ireland has supplied the ODA to date, and this is categorised as a large business 
		
	
	Many of the opportunities for small and medium sized business will exist in the London 2012 supply chains. In addition to establishing the London 2012 Business Network, which gives businesses across the country access to opportunities in the supply chains, over the last year the ODA has visited each of the UK's nations and regions to raise awareness of the business opportunities generated by the 2012 Games.

Domestic Violence

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many offences of domestic abuse were committed in  (a) A District Command Unit area,  (b) B District Command Unit area and  (c) Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (i) age and (ii) sex of the victim; and how many of these were repeat offences in each year.

Paul Goggins: The following table shows recorded crimes with a domestic motivation broken down by age over 17 years and age under 17 years and by gender for (i) A district Command and (ii) B District Command. Due to a change in systems, comparable statistics are available only from 2004-05. Information on the number repeat offences is not available.
	
		
			  Recorded crimes with a domestic motivation: gender and age of victims, a and b districts and Northern Ireland 2004-05 to 2007-08 
			   Females 17 and over  Males 17 and over  Children under 17  Gender/age unknown( 1)  Total Offences 
			  A District  
			 2004-05 863 204 56 29 1,152 
			 2005-06 927 230 61 209 1,427 
			 2006-07 795 231 65 157 1,248 
			 2007-08 863 237 59 193 1,352 
			   
			  B District  
			 2004-05 501 176 33 12 722 
			 2005-06 582 211 41 160 994 
			 2006-07 578 211 42 91 922 
			 2007-08 533 189 37 100 859 
			   
			  Northern Ireland  
			 2004-05 6,005 1,851 488 164 8,508 
			 2005-06 6,463 2,122 539 1,644 10,768 
			 2006-07 6,218 2,057 572 1,268 10,115 
			 2007-08 5,621 1,773 562 1,327 9,283 
			 (1) Gender/age unknown figures include the offence of breach of non molestation order from 2005-06 onwards. Breaches of non molestation orders have been counted as offences in Northern Ireland under the Home Office Counting Rules from 1 April 2005.  Source: Central Statistics Unit, PSNI

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the cost per vehicle is of each design role category of the Piranha V vehicle;
	(2)  what the cost per vehicle is of the appliqué armour for each Piranha V vehicle;
	(3)  what the projected in-service date for the future rapid effect system utility vehicle is.

Bob Ainsworth: Piranha 5 is the provisionally preferred utility vehicle design at this stage. The cost per vehicle of each of the FRES utility vehicle, any costs associated with fitting additional armour protection and the planned in service date will be fixed at the main investment decision.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Procurement

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the planned in-service dates for the Future Rapid Effects System.

Bob Ainsworth: In common with all defence equipment programmes, the in service dates for the future rapid effect system family of armoured vehicles will be fixed at the main investment decisions. It is our policy not to release or discuss in service dates ahead of the main investment decision.

Lorries: Excise Duties

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many heavy goods vehicles entered the UK from the EU in each of the last three years; and what taxes were imposed per lorry in road tax and other charges.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department collects and publishes data on the numbers of heavy goods vehicles travelling to mainland Europe by vehicle nationality. A breakdown of the data for the last three years are provided in the following table, representing outwards journeys only. Inwards journeys are not collected.
	The equivalent data for vehicles travelling to the Republic of Ireland by ferry and across the Irish land boundary are not available.
	
		
			  Powered road goods vehicles travelling to mainland Europe by country of registration 
			  Thousand vehicles 
			   2005  2006  2007 
			 UK 418 406 400 
			 EU(1) 1,407 1,473 1,623 
			 Non-EU(2) 106 134 96 
			 Unknown 10 9 11 
			 Total 1,941 2,021 2,129 
			 (1) For 2005 and 2006, does not include Bulgaria and Romania (2 )For 2005 and 2006, includes Bulgaria and Romania 
		
	
	EU law is clear that member state policy measures may not inhibit the freedom of movement of goods and may not discriminate (directly or indirectly) according to nationality of haulier or the origin or destination of a vehicle. This of itself precludes any lump-sum tax levied specifically on entry to the UK.

Motorways: Speed Limits

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the reasons are for the 50 mile per hour speed limit remaining in force on the southbound carriageway north of junction 9 of the M1 motorway after the opening of four carriageways to traffic.

Tom Harris: The 50 mph speed restriction remains in place for the following reasons.
	There are still elements of work to be completed, which may impact on the safety of the travelling public. This mainly involves work to the safety fencing.
	Once the safety fence work has been completed, there will still be a safety concern for both the work force and the travelling public. This is because if the 50 mph speed limit is removed, it will mean that four lanes of traffic travelling at 70 mph, will be merging into a 50 mph three lane section, where work is still continuing. This could result in an increase in incidents and cause further delays.
	However, with consultation with the police force, once all safety works are complete on this section, the 50 mph section will be moved to just south of junction 10. This will return as much carriageway as possible to 70 mph, while still maintaining as safe an environment as possible for traffic entering the 50 mph works section.

Railway Stations

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many stations there are on the national rail network; how many stations on the national rail network are wholly unstaffed; and how many stations on the national rail network are staffed from the beginning to the end of traffic.

Tom Harris: There are currently 2,515 stations owned by Network Rail, on the national rail network. Information about staffing levels at these stations is a matter either for Network Rail at its managed stations or for the relevant train operating company at the franchised stations.

Trains

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects a new fleet of trains supplied under the InterCity Express Programme to be fully operational; and on which routes she expects such trains to operate.

Tom Harris: The first pre-series trains are scheduled to be tested in 2013, with the first fleet deployed into passenger service on the East Coast Main Line from 2015. Bidders are also tendering proposals for the Great Western Main Line, plus options for further deployment on west coast and cross country routes.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of cows receiving positive  (a) gamma interferon blood tests and  (b) skin tests for bovine tuberculosis were subsequently demonstrated to be clear of the disease at post mortem in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: It is a misconception that failure to find post-mortem evidence of bovine TB in animals that have previously had a positive reaction to a TB test means such animals are clear of the disease. It is frequently not possible to see typical signs of disease with the naked eye, or to culture the bacterium from tissue samples. Diagnostic tests are more effective at identifying infected cattle than post mortem analyses. The primary purpose of post mortem analyses is to support epidemiological investigations and the management of TB outbreaks, not to validate ante-mortem tests.
	An important point to note is that the TB testing programme aims to identify and confirm bovine TB on a herd rather than an individual animal basis. Meaningful "confirmation" rates for gamma interferon reactors, in particular, cannot be provided, as a significant proportion of gamma interferon positive animals are not subject to laboratory culture, as infection has already been identified in the herd.

Environment Agency: Finance

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the likely effect of the Environment Agency's charging increases for craft registrations on craft numbers over the three years of the proposed charging plan; and by how much registration income is expected to rise.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Environment Agency undertook an economic price elasticity study to support the development of its three-year charging plan for craft registrations. This study suggested that the likely effect of three successive 12 per cent. charge increases would be to reduce the number of craft registered on Environment Agency waterways by between 6 and 14 per cent. over the three years.
	It is estimated that, on this basis, these increases would raise registration income by between £1.0 and £1.5 million (27 to 40 per cent.) against 2006-07 income.
	The Environment Agency reports that the first year of the charging plan was implemented for 2007-08, with registration charges being increased by 12 per cent. The registration income received by the Environment Agency increased by £460,000 (12.3 per cent.), whilst the number of registered craft fell by 0.2 per cent. on 2006-07 numbers.

Rural Payments Agency: Standards

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the  (a) original target and  (b) actual reduction in (i) staffing numbers and (ii) associated expenditure was in the Rural Payments Agency in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The original target for staffing numbers for the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) was 1,946. This figure was based on the assumption that the new IT solution would deliver significant headcount efficiencies, which did not prove to be the case.
	The target did not include FTA, casual or agency staff as the intention was that the IT solution would enable RPA to phase out the use of these staff. However it proved necessary to retain agency staff and, as operational pressures increased, more were recruited.
	Since the target was set the merger with the British Cattle Movement Service, in September 2003, and amalgamation of the Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate and Investigation Branch into RPA In April 2006, added approximately 590 staff.
	RPA staffing numbers in each of the last five years are:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2003-04 3,996 
			 2004-05 3,892 
			 2005-06 4,592 
			 2006-07 4,467 
			 2007-08 4,297 
		
	
	Expenditure on Staffing:
	
		
			  Financial year 2003-04 
			   Total staff costs (£000) 
			 Wages and salaries 70,491 
			 Social security costs 4,784 
			 Other pension costs 10,537 
			 Total 85,812 
			   
			 Agency staff 4,777 
			   
			 Total 90,589 
		
	
	
		
			  Financial year 200 4-05 
			   Total staff costs (£000) 
			 Wages and salaries 70,260 
			 Social security costs 5,156 
			 Other pension costs 8,116 
			 Total  
			  83,532 
			 Agency staff 4,473 
			   
			 Total 88,005 
		
	
	
		
			  Financial year 200 5-06 
			   Total staff costs (£000) 
			 Wages and salaries 70,836 
			 Social security costs 5,461 
			 Other pension costs 10,144 
			 Total 86,441 
			   
			 Agency staff 21,085 
			   
			 Total 107,526 
		
	
	
		
			  Financial year 200 6-07 
			   Total staff costs (£000) 
			 Wages and salaries 71,612 
			 Social security costs 5,496 
			 Other pension costs 10,985 
			 Total 88,093 
			   
			 Agency staff 24,334 
			   
			 Total 112,427 
		
	
	For financial year 2007-08 the costs are not yet audited and therefore not available.

Wildlife: Cyprus

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had at EU level on the compliance with EU law of hunting and trapping of wild birds in Cyprus and Malta.

Joan Ruddock: I have not had any recent discussions at EU level on this issue.
	Within the European Union, the EC Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (the "Birds Directive") affords protection to all wild birds. Responsibility for ensuring that member states comply with the Birds Directive is a matter for the European Commission. The UK Government support the role of the Commission in taking justified and proportionate action to ensure that the common rules for the protection of wild birds laid down in the Birds Directive are followed by member states.
	The Commission does take action against countries which fail to fully comply with the directive. In June 2007 the Commission sent a warning letter to Cypriot authorities, regarding a two day exemption which permitted the hunting of turtle doves in spring, and warned that any future exemptions from the directive could lead to legal action being taken. The Cypriot authorities agreed not to renew this exemption. The Commission has also taken action to prevent spring hunting of certain birds in Malta, which it believes is contrary to the provisions of the Birds Directive. This action resulted in a ruling from the European Court of Justice preventing Malta from authorising the hunting of quails and turtle doves outside the period of hunting for these species permitted under the Birds Directive.

Fire Service College

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans her Department has for the future of the Fire Service College in Moreton-in-Marsh.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department will continue to support the Fire Service College to be the national training provider of choice for the Fire and Rescue Service, providing high quality training which meets FRS needs at affordable cost. The Department has invested over £14 million in the development of new training facilities and student accommodation at the Moreton in Marsh site since 2003 and is working with the college to ensure that it can deliver training and fulfil its obligations as a trading fund.

Fire Service College

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what reports her Department has commissioned from consultants into the running of the Fire Service College; and if she will publish them.

Parmjit Dhanda: In August 2005 the Department commissioned Ernst and Young to carry out a feasibility study into investment in the infrastructure and facilities of the Fire Service College. This study reported in February 2006. In November 2006 the Department commissioned Mouchel Parkman Services Ltd. to follow up the feasibility study by producing a business case on the options for securing investment in the Moreton in Marsh site and highlighting the most appropriate method of optimising the college's financial performance. This study reported in June 2007. college management was closely involved in both studies.
	Both reports contain commercially sensitive information and the Department has no plans to publish them.

Fire Service College

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's policy is on a merger of the Fire Service College and the Emergency Planning College.

Parmjit Dhanda: The roles of the Fire Service College and Emergency Planning College are complementary but different. The Fire Service College focuses on specialist training at the operational (Bronze), tactical (Silver) and strategic (Gold) levels with around 90 per cent. of its students coming from the Fire and Rescue Service. The Emergency Planning College brings together the emergency services and the many organisations involved in multi-agency working at the Gold level in large scale emergencies, including non-blue light scenarios such as influenza. Fire and Rescue Service students comprise less than 10 per cent. of the Emergency Planning College's intake.
	The Fire Service College and the Emergency Planning College co-operate where joint working has the potential to enhance the multi agency approach and thereby strengthen national resilience.

Local Government: Accountability

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance she has given on the operation of question-times or regular meetings at which local government Cabinet or Executive members give an account of their stewardship.

Parmjit Dhanda: The guidance, 'New Councils Constitution: guidance to English Local Authorities' which we issued following the Local Government Act 2000 highlights the importance of councils encouraging public participation in their meetings for example through taking questions or comments on the leaders report, and offering opportunities for public interactive sessions.

Planning Permission

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of planning decisions by  (a) Wolverhampton City Council,  (b) Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council,  (c) Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council,  (d) Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council,  (e) Birmingham City Council and  (f) local authorities in England were (i) appealed to and (ii) successful following appeal to the Planning Inspectorate in (A) 2003, (B) 2004, (C) 2005, (D) 2006 and (E) 2007.

Iain Wright: The Planning Inspectorate does not record the proportion of planning decisions that come to the Inspectorate on appeal. However, the Inspectorate calculates that between 3 and 4 per cent. of council decisions result in an appeal.
	Over the past five years approximately 3 to 4 per cent. of LPA decisions have come to use on appeal (see following).
	
		
			Appeals received 
			   LPA decisions  Number  Percentage 
			 2003-04 624,000 22,551 3.61 
			 2004-05 645,000 23,075 3.58 
			 2005-06 598,000 22,121 3.70 
			 2006-07 587,000 22,710 3.87 
			 2007-08(1) 464,000 17,055 3.68 
			 (1) Only first three quarters of 2007-08 data is available. 
		
	
	The following table represents the number of planning appeals (i) received, decided and (ii) allowed (with percentage) during the period requested:
	
		
			   (i) Received  Decided  (ii) Allowed  Percentage allowed 
			  (a) Wolverhampton 
			 2003 60 58 24 41 
			 2004 80 60 20 33 
			 2005 67 74 30 41 
			 2006 73 62 24 39 
			 2007 69 62 20 32 
			  
			  (b) Sandwell 
			 2003 37 34 13 38 
			 2004 53 24 13 54 
			 2005 23 41 18 44 
			 2006 42 35 19 54 
			 2007 38 32 16 50 
			  
			  (c) Walsall 
			 2003 47 32 19 59 
			 2004 73 46 19 41 
			 2005 78 76 27 36 
			 2006 68 58 17 29 
			 2007 72 60 24 40 
			  
			  (d) Dudley 
			 2003 67 64 20 31 
			 2004 76 50 18 36 
			 2005 90 80 37 46 
			 2006 85 88 46 52 
			 2007 64 62 34 55 
			  
			  (e) Birmingham 
			 2003 154 157 55 35 
			 2004 206 126 39 31 
			 2005 171 182 47 26 
			 2006 161 152 51 34 
			 2007 183 154 48 31 
			  
			  (f) All local planning authorities 
			 2003 20,594 18,067 6,051 33 
			 2004 25,139 16,509 5,584 34 
			 2005 20,768 22,367 7,434 33 
			 2006 23,058 19,863 6,754 34 
			 2007 22,827 20,536 7,336 36

General Practitioners: Working Hours

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions there will be under GP contracts when opening hours are extended to ensure practices are available and appropriately staffed during core hours.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 9 June 2008
	General practitioner (GP) practices are extending their opening hours by entering into enhanced service agreements with their primary care trusts (PCTs) as part of their contractual arrangements. An overriding principal in entering into such agreements is that practices should maintain standards of access and availability during contracted core hours. GP practices remain contractually required to provide essential, and where appropriate, additional primary medical services that are appropriate to meet the reasonable needs of their patients within core hours. Where they do not meet those requirements, they may be judged by their PCT to be in breach of their contract.

Hospital Beds: Milton Keynes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds  (a) in total and  (b) per head of population were available at Milton Keynes hospital in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 10 June 2008
	The information requested is shown for Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS Trust in the following table. Data has been provided for beds per 1,000 population.
	
		
			  Bed availability at Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS Trust, 1996-97 to 2006-07 
			   Number of available beds in wards open overnight and day only  Number of available beds in wards open overnight and day only per 1,000 pop 
			 1996-97 391 1.99 
			 1997-98 399 2.00 
			 1998-99 398 1.96 
			 1999-2000 403 1.95 
			 2000-01 400 1.91 
			 2001-02 396 1.86 
			 2002-03 423 1.97 
			 2003-04 442 2.04 
			 2004-05 452 2.07 
			 2005-06 475 2.15 
			 2006-07 470 2.09 
			  Note: Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS Trust became a foundation trust on 1 October 2007, but this is not reflected in the table as the latest published data is for 2006-07.  Source: Bed availability data: Department of Health data set KH03; Population data: Office for National Statistics mid-year estimates for Milton Keynes Unitary Authority.

Monitor: Healthcare Commission

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the policy objectives are of retaining Monitor and the Healthcare Commission as separate entities; and if he will set out the objectives of each organisation;
	(2)  if he will merge Monitor and the Healthcare Commission.

Ben Bradshaw: Subject to parliamentary approval, the Health and Social Care Bill will establish the Care Quality Commission. From April 2009, the new Commission will take over from the Healthcare Commission, the Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Mental Health Act Commission.
	The two regulatory bodies will have different and very specific roles.
	The Care Quality Commission will be responsible for regulating services across the health and adult social care sectors. The new Commission will have a number or functions including assuring safety and quality across all types of provider of health and adult social care. It will have enforcement powers it can use when a provider is not complying with essential safety and quality requirements.
	There are no plans to change the role of Monitor (the statutory name of which is the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts). Monitor will continue its specific role of authorising and regulating national health service foundation trusts to ensure that they meet the requirements for governance, financial stability and delivery of mandatory services set out in their terms of authorisation.

NHS: DHL

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 15 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1668W, on the NHS: DHL, what percentage of the £1 billion expected savings has been achieved to date.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 10 June 2008
	To the end of March 2008, the percentage of the expected savings achieved was ahead of target at 1.3 per cent.
	The savings escalate over the 10 year term as they are driven by increasing turnover and contract renewals. The savings are expected to be significantly lower in the first five years compared to the second five years of the term.

Salt: Health Education

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on the Sid the Slug campaign; and what  (a) mechanisms,  (b) baselines and  (c) targets have been established to measure the effectiveness of the campaign.

Dawn Primarolo: The total cost of the Sid the Slug campaign was £4,204,000.
	To measure effectiveness of the campaign, specific pre and post campaign tracking research was established using RSGB face-to-face adult omnibus survey which interviews a nationally representative sample of adults 16-years-old and over in the United Kingdom. The pre campaign research set a baseline on awareness and claimed behaviour. Targets based on these baselines were set. These were:
	increase awareness among our target audience that too much salt in the diet is bad for your heart from 32 per cent. to 42 per cent. (result 46 per cent.); and
	increase in claim to be trying to cut down their salt intake among our target audience from 40 per cent. to 50 per cent. (result 49 per cent.).

Blackpool

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of staff employed at the Mexford House, Blackpool site, and eligible for redeployment within his Department, utilised the exit scheme in each of the last three years.

Anne McGuire: In the last three years the percentage of staff, employed at Mexford House eligible for redeployment, who utilised the Department's exit scheme is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 2005-06 0 
			 2006-07 0 
			 2007-08 35

Blackpool

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many overtime hours were worked at the disability and carers service based at Warbreck Hill in each of the last five years.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available in the format requested as records are not retained of the number of overtime hours worked. Such information as is available is in the following table:
	Total expenditure on overtime at the disability and carers service's operation at Warbreck Hill site over the last five years and as a percentage of the total paybill.
	
		
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Overtime expenditure (£ million) 1.90 1.59 2.20 2.86 1.79 
			 Overtime expenditure as percentage of total paybill 4 4 4 5 3

Departmental Opinion Polls

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost has been of opinion polling conducted for his Department  (a) in each year since 1997 and  (b) in 2008; if he will place copies of all poll questions in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: My Department has not conducted any opinion polls.
	My Department has, however, conducted an annual omnibus survey on public attitudes to the Government's welfare reform programme. This research was limited between 2001 and 2004. In 2005 and 2008, to make the findings more robust, an increased number of new attitude statements were tested amongst the public prior to being included in omnibus research. In 2005 we also conducted a piece of research to monitor public awareness of the Department and its responsibilities.
	To date, in 2008 my Department has conducted two omnibus surveys designed to raise awareness of the change to state retirement age for women and to encourage planning and saving for retirement.
	Details are provided in the following table.
	
		
			   Cost (£) 
			 2001—Public Attitudes—Wave 1 9,350 
			 2002—Public Attitudes—Wave 2 9,600 
			 2003—Public Attitudes—Wave 3 10,450 
			 2004—Public Attitudes—Wave 4 11,100 
			 2005—Public Attitudes—Wave 5 and New 1 Public Awareness 86,000 
			 2006—Public Attitudes 50,000 
			 2007—Public Attitudes 32,030 
			 2008—Public Attitudes 40,850 
			 2008 Attitudes to pension saving 1,550 
			 2008 Attitudes to retirement 4,480 
			 Total costs 255,410

Departmental Opinion Polls

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what issues his Department has conducted opinion polling since 2005; and what the cost has been in each case.

Anne McGuire: My Department has not conducted any opinion polls since 2005.
	My Department has conducted annual omnibus surveys to monitor public attitudes to the Government's welfare reform programme between 2005-08. In addition, a further piece of research was conducted in 2005 to monitor public awareness of the Department and its responsibilities.
	To date, in 2008 my Department has conducted two omnibus surveys designed to raise awareness of the change to state retirement age for women and to encourage planning and saving for retirement.
	Details are provided in the following table.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2005—Public Attitudes 43,000 
			 2005—Public Awareness 43,000 
			 2006—Public Attitudes 50,000 
			 2007—Public Attitudes 32,030 
			 2008—Public Attitudes 40,850 
			 2008—Attitudes to pension saving 1,550 
			 2008—Attitudes to retirement 4,480

Departmental Visits Abroad

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what overseas visits he has undertaken since taking up his post.

Anne McGuire: Since taking up post on the 24 January 2008, the Secretary of State has visited New York and Paris in his official capacity.
	All official travel in my Department is undertaken strictly in accordance with the rules contained in the Cabinet Office Management Code. All ministerial travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the "Ministerial Code" and "Travel by Ministers". Copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Housing Benefit

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants of  (a) housing benefit and  (b) local housing allowance there are in (i) Ribble Valley constituency, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) England.

James Plaskitt: The local housing allowance was rolled out nationally from 7 April 2008 and it is too early to provide case load information.
	Housing benefit information is not available at constituency level. The most recent information available is in the following table.
	
		
			  Housing benefit recipients as at May 2007 
			   Number 
			 England 3,401,590 
			 Lancashire 92,240 
			 Ribble Valley Borough Council 1,490 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 3. Housing benefit excludes any extended payment cases. 4. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated. 5. Lancashire includes the following local authorities: Blackburn with Darwen; Blackpool; Burnley; Chorley; Fylde; Hyndburn; Lancaster; Pendle; Preston; Ribble Valley; Rossendale; South Ribble; West Lancashire; and Wyre.  Source: Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. case load stock-count taken in May 2007.

Social Security Benefits: Care Homes

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of means-tested benefits for residents of  (a) residential and  (b) nursing homes in 2008-09.

Mike O'Brien: The information as requested is not available. We estimate that in 2006-07, around £370 million of income-related benefits were paid to people in residential care and nursing homes.
	 Notes:
	1. Forecast expenditure data does not separately identify people in residential and nursing homes, so the most recent available full year data is 2006-07.
	2. The system flag used to record if someone is in a care home does not distinguish between residential or nursing homes.
	 Source:
	DWP accounting and statistical data.

Social Security Benefits: Disabled

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements are in place to ensure that all his Department's offices are informed of recorded disability needs of their customers; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: Wherever possible we try to ensure that the needs of disabled customers are met. For example, in Jobcentre Plus if a customer states that they have a disability or health problem, with their permission, this information is recorded on a computer system. An enhancement to IT systems that support disability living allowance and attendance allowance benefit claims from customers, allows Pension, Disability and Carer's Service staff to record a customer's preferred method of communication. Our current IT systems do not allow recorded information on a customer's disability needs to be shared across the different parts of the Department.
	The Department for Work and Pension's Three Year Plan sets out the intention during 2008-11 to identify further opportunities to develop new processes to meet the accessibility needs of our customers so that they are able to receive the services appropriate to their needs. This will also ensure that our businesses across the Department are able to collect, share and act upon information about a customer's additional requirements.

Unemployment: Young People

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 24 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 2205-06W, to the hon. Member for Hertsmere from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on unemployment: young people, what assessment he has made of the reasons for  (a) the fall in the employment rate of UK nationals and  (b) the fall in the level of unemployment of UK nationals; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 12 May 2008
	 The employment rate of UK nationals in the first quarter of 2008 was 75.1 per cent., a 0.4 percentage point rise on the same period in 2007 and 2.3 percentage points higher than in the first quarter of 1997.
	The ILO unemployment rate for UK nationals fell by 0.3 percentage points, to 5.0 per cent., in the year to the first quarter of 2008, and is down from 7.2 per cent. in the same quarter of 1997.
	The improvement in the labour market position of UK nationals reflects a combination of stable economic growth, a flexible and dynamic labour market in which new job opportunities are coming up all the time, and active labour market policies which have helped jobless individuals, particularly the most disadvantaged, to move back into the labour market and from there into work.
	The position of young people is affected by the interaction between the labour market and the education system, with more people now staying on in education than 10 years ago. For UK nationals aged under 25 who have left full-time education, the employment rate was 74.3 per cent. in the first quarter of 2008, up 0.6 percentage points over the last year but 0.2 percentage points lower than in the same quarter of 1997. The ILO unemployment rate, for UK nationals aged under 25 who have left full-time education, in the first quarter of 2008 was 12.9 per cent., down from 13.6 per cent. in the first quarter of 2007 and 14.3 per cent. in the first quarter of 1997.

British Council: Languages

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many teachers of  (a) English and  (b) Welsh were employed by the British Council in each country outside the UK, over the last five years.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 20 May 2008
	The table shows the number of teachers employed by the British Council over the last five years. Providing a breakdown by country could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. This data does not include casual staff teachers employed by the British Council at various times during the year.
	
		
			   Number of teachers employed by the British Council 
			 2007-08 1,825 
			 2006-07 1,809 
			 2005-06 1,678 
			 2004-05 1,700 
			 2003-04 1,700 
		
	
	The British Council responds to the considerable global demand for English and supports many English language providers. There is limited demand outside the UK for Welsh language teaching, but where the opportunity does arise for the teaching of the Welsh language, the British Council responds. For example, on behalf of the Welsh Assembly, the British Council provides up to three Welsh language teachers to Patagonia per year. 25 local tutors have been trained to teach Welsh.

Burma: Constitutions

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the conditions under which the 10 May 2008 constitutional referendum in Burma was held; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: It is an indictment of the regime that they chose to go ahead with their flawed constitutional referendum at a time when hundreds of thousands of Burma's citizens were suffering without food, clean water or shelter in the Irrawaddy Delta. The political situation in Burma precludes a free and fair vote. Fundamental rights and freedoms are completely absent and the democratic opposition is persecuted — its leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi, locked up and its supporters living in fear of detention and violence. The referendum itself was conducted in an atmosphere of intimidation, where criticism of the process was punishable by long prison sentences. We also have serious doubts about the secrecy of voting. The results, a turnout of 98 per cent. (including those areas hit by the cyclone) and a 'yes' vote of over 92 per cent. lack all credibility.
	The Government will continue its work towards an inclusive transition to democracy in Burma including engagement of EU member states and the UN.

Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the removal of the 10 pence income tax rate.

Jane Kennedy: The Chancellor receives a wide range of representations on many different issues
	On 13 May he announced an increase in the individual personal tax allowance by £600 to £6,035 for this financial year, benefiting all basic-rate taxpayers under 65 and removing 600,000 low-income individuals from tax, Around 22 million basic-rate taxpayers will gain an additional £120 this year, fully compensating 80 per cent. of households that lose from the Budget 2007 reforms, with the remaining 1.1 million households seeing their loss at least halved.

Non-domestic Rates: Small Businesses

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many hereditaments in England have been eligible to receive the Small Business Rate Relief in each of the last three financial years.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for Local Government (John Healey) to the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton (Alan Duncan) on 29 April 2008,  Official Report, column 319W.

Revenue and Customs: Aylesbury

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much HM Revenue and Customs pay in rent at Kingfisher House, Aylesbury,  (a) overall and  (b) per square metre.

Jane Kennedy: The majority of HMRC offices, including Kingfisher House, Aylesbury, are held under Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts which differ from traditional lease arrangements. An all inclusive facility price is paid for the provision of serviced accommodation and a standard rent is not paid.

Domestic Violence: Injunctions

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many injunctions against domestic violence perpetrators have been  (a) made by courts and  (b) breached under the provisions of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004; and how many breaches have led to a term of imprisonment.

Bridget Prentice: Between 1 July 2007—when breach of a non-molestation order became a criminal offence—and 31 March 2008, 17,790 non- molestation orders were granted in the county courts across England and Wales.
	Although there is capacity to record breach data in the courts, we suspect cases are not being recorded consistently in all courts.
	Where breach is recorded, quality checks have revealed large variations in the way they are recorded therefore it would not be appropriate to publish the limited information available. The implementation of the Libra IT system in the magistrates courts by the end of 2009 will provide a further opportunity to quality assure data. Statistics on breaches will be published as soon as sufficient improvements have been made.

Young Offenders: Secure Accommodation

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many beds there were in England and Wales in medium secure hospital units for young offenders with learning disabilities in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; how many of those beds were occupied in each of the last 36 months for which figures are available; what assessment he has made of the match between provision and demand; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: This information is not held centrally. The National Commissioning Group (NCG) is responsible for commissioning a range of specialist health services including the national in-patient Secure Forensic Mental Health Service for Young People, which in turn oversees in-patient treatment and referrals to seven specialist national health service secure hospital units for under-18s throughout England.
	These seven units provide a range of mental health and learning disability treatments and contain a total of 105 beds. Of these, 17 beds are targeted for young people with learning disabilities. These are situated at Malcolm Arnold House in Northampton and the Roycroft Unit in Newcastle.
	A needs assessment project undertaken in 2004, suggested that between 15 per cent. and 33 per cent. of young people referred to the National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group (now NCG) funded units had some level of intellectual disability. This equated to a minimum number of eight referrals a year and a maximum of 17. The current level of referrals for learning disability meets the quota of available beds. During times of additional demand, the NCG has the capacity to commission additional beds from the private sector in England.
	Health commissioning responsibilities for Wales are the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government/NHS Wales.

Foundation Degrees: Admissions

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of (a) 18 to 20 year olds and  (b) persons aged 21 years and over with A levels, Vocational A levels, NVQ Level 3, advanced apprenticeships or other qualifications who began courses for (i) full-time and (ii) part-time foundation degrees in the latest period for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information is given in the table.
	
		
			  UK domiciled entrants to foundation degree courses by age and prior qualification—UK higher education institutions academic year 2006/07 
			   Age as at 31 August in reporting year 
			   Full-time  Part-time 
			  Highest qualification on entry:  18 to 20  21 and over  18 to 20  21 and over 
			 Any combinations of GCE 'A'/SCE 'Higher' and GNVQ/GSVQ or NVQ/SVQ at level 3 3,605 1,680 385 2,380 
			  O f which: 
			 Holding one or more GCE 'A' level(1) 2,125 275 80 130 
			 Holding one or more Vocational 'A' level(1) 630 40 15 10 
			  
			 Other level 3 qualifications 1,720 1,200 180 890 
			 Other qualifications 1,635 4,235 510 6,965 
			 (1) These rows may contain an element of double counting, as entrants may hold 'A' levels in addition to Vocational 'A' levels.  Note: Figures are on a HESA Standard Registration Population basis, and are rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Higher Education: Medicine

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which university medical schools admitted students aged under 21 years for training leading to qualifications as a doctor with less than the equivalent of  (a) three Bs at A level,  (b) three Cs at A level and  (c) three Ds at A level; how many such students were admitted in each year since 2001; and which university medical schools plan to admit students under the auspices of the widening participation scheme.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 2 June 2008
	Several medical schools run schemes to encourage applications from bright students from disadvantaged or non-traditional backgrounds, but data on admissions, costs and student outcomes for these schemes is not collected centrally.
	Information on the pre-entry qualifications of students entering first degree courses in medicine is shown in Table 1. Comparable figures prior to the 2002-03 academic year are not available.
	
		
			  Table 1: UK Domiciled entrants aged under 21 years, to first degree courses in medicine, by qualifications on entry( 1) —Based upon UCAS tariff score from A levels from students reporting A level as their highest qualification on entry, 2002/03 to 2006/07: English higher education institutions( 2) 
			Of which: those with scores equivalent to: 
			  Academic year  Entrants with A levels as highest qualification on entry  Less than Bs( 3) /300 tariff points  Less than 3 Cs( 4) /240 tariff points  Less than 3 Ds/180 tariff points 
			 2002/03 3,550 130 55 20 
			 2003/04 3,830 125 35 15 
			 2004/05 4,165 95 45 10 
			 2005/06 4,105 70 25 10 
			 2006/07 3,960 75 30 20 
			 (1) In 2002/03 the UCAS tariff replaced A level scores. The tariff covers a wider range of qualifications though it is possible to identify those students with the tariff equivalent of 3 grade Bs (300 points), 3 grade Cs (240 points) or 3 grade Ds (180 points). However, tariff score contains an unlimited number of eligible qualifications, not just the student's best three A levels. (2) Excluding the Open University. (3) Including students with less than 3 Cs/240 tariff points and less than 3 Ds/180 tariff points. (4) Including students with less than 3 Ds/180 tariff points.  Note: Figures are on a HESA Standard Registration Populations basis and are rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record.

Business: Yorkshire and the Humber

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many business registrations for value added tax there have been in  (a) Leeds Metropolitan District,  (b) Leeds West constituency area and  (c) Yorkshire and Humberside in each year since 2000.

Patrick McFadden: VAT registration data provides the only accurate indicator of the level of business start-up activity.
	The number of new VAT registrations in Leeds metropolitan district, Leeds, West constituency and Yorkshire and the Humber Government office region are shown as follows for 2000 to 2006. Data for VAT registrations and de-registrations in 2007 will be available autumn 2008.
	
		
			  Number of new VAT registrations and VAT-registered businesses 
			   2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			  New VAT registrations 
			 Leeds metropolitan district 1,945 1,835 1,955 2,095 2,040 1,965 2,030 — 
			 Leeds, West constituency 150 135 155 155 155 165 165 — 
			  
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Government office region 12,005 11,665 12,440 13,840 13,060 12,935 12,900 — 
			  
			  All VAT-registered businesses 
			 Leeds metropolitan district 17,880 18,025 18,065 18,145 18,510 18,780 19,180 19,565 
			 Leeds, West constituency 1,355 1,400 1,415 1,440 1,470 1,515 1,575 1,645 
			  
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Government office region 125,110 126,470 127,305 128,680 132,005 134,515 137,195 139,970 
			  Source:  BERR National Statistics publication 'Business start-ups and closures: VAT registrations and de-registrations 2006' available at: http://stats.berr.gov.uk/ed/vat/uidex. htm 
		
	
	Although the number of new VAT registrations in each area has fluctuated between 2000 and 2006 the total number of VAT registered businesses has increased in all areas over the period. The stock of VAT registered businesses in the Leeds metropolitan district has increased by 1,685 (9 per cent.) between the start of 2000 and the start of 2007; in Leeds, West constituency there has been an increase of 290 (21 per cent.); and in Yorkshire and the Humber Government office region there has been an increase of 14,860 (12 per cent.).
	VAT registrations do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which was £60,000 at the start of 2006. Only 1.9 million out of 4.5 million UK enterprises (43 per cent.) were registered for VAT at the start of 2006.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what changes  (a) have been made and  (b) are planned to be made by his Department to the planning requirements for the domestic stream of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme; what his Department's plans to promote the programme are; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government recently announced relaxed planning requirements for the majority of micro generation technologies, which came into effect on 6 April 2008. There is work outstanding on permitted development for micro wind and air source heat pumps (ASHP). As a result applicants to the Low Carbon Buildings programme (LCBP) are directed to the Energy Savings Trust website http://www.energysavingtrust. org.uk/generate_your_own_energy/planning_ permission_for_renewable_energy_technologies/ where guidance of permitted development is set out for each technology.
	The Government are working with the Energy Saving Trust to promote the Low Carbon Buildings programme household funding stream. To date, we have used both their advice network and market segmentation models to target those that are most likely to install microgeneration technologies and apply for grants. Further details are available at www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk. Going forward BERR is working with EST on proposals to do further work with local authorities on promoting the programme to householders.

New Businesses: Buckinghamshire

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  how many business start-ups took place in  (a) the town of Aylesbury,  (b) Aylesbury constituency,  (c) Aylesbury Vale District,  (d) Wycombe District and  (e) Chiltern District in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many business registrations for value added tax there were in  (a) the town of Aylesbury,  (b) Aylesbury constituency,  (c) Aylesbury Vale District,  (d) Wycombe District and  (e) Chiltern District in each of the last three years.

Gareth Thomas: VAT registration data provides the only accurate indicator of the level of business start-up activity.
	The number of new VAT registrations in Aylesbury Vale, Wycombe and Chiltern districts and Aylesbury constituency are shown as follows for 2004 to 2006. Data for VAT registrations and de-registrations in 2007 will be available autumn 2008.
	
		
			  Number of new VAT registrations and VAT-registered businesses 
			   2004  2005  2006  2007 
			  New VAT registrations 
			 Aylesbury Vale district 705 715 740 — 
			 Chiltern district 420 425 440 — 
			 Wycombe district 695 670 695 — 
			 Aylesbury constituency 370 430 435 — 
			  
			  All VAT-registered businesses 
			 Aylesbury Vale district 7,300 7,445 7,575 7,785 
			 Chiltern district 4,735 4,785 4,855 4,950 
			 Wycombe district 7,835 7,880 7,945 8,075 
			 Aylesbury constituency 4,130 4,180 4,270 4,415 
			  Source: BERR National Statistics publication 'Business start-ups and closures: VAT registrations and de-registrations 2006' available at: http://stats.berr.gov.uk/ed/vat/index.htm 
		
	
	Although the number of new VAT registrations in each area has fluctuated between 2004 and 2006 the total number of VAT registered businesses has increased in all areas over the period. The stock of VAT registered businesses in the Aylesbury Vale district has increased by 485 (7 per cent.) between the start of 2004 and the start of 2007; in Chiltern district there has been an increase of 215 (5 per cent.); in Wycombe district there has been an increase of 240 (3 per cent.); and in Aylesbury constituency there has been an increase of 285 (7 per cent.).
	VAT registrations do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which was £60,000 at the start of 2006. Only 1.9 million out of 4.5 million UK enterprises (43 per cent.) were registered for VAT at the start of 2006.

Tidal Power

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what funding his Department is providing for the research and development of offshore tidal stream turbines in 2008-09; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The UK has in place a comprehensive set of support measures, to assist and encourage the development of marine technologies.
	The package of support measures we have put in place, includes the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council's (EPSRC) Supergen Marine programme, Carbon Trust funding, research funding from the Technology Strategy Board and the Energy Technologies Institute. BERR's £50 million Marine Renewables Deployment Fund, provides a package of measures central to which is a £42 million 'Wave and Tidal Stream Energy Demonstration Scheme'. We also support the European Marine Energy Centre wave and tidal stream test site in Orkney and have offered £4.5 million support to the proposed £28 million Wave Hub off the Cornish coast.
	The aforementioned demonstrates the Government's continued commitment to supporting the development of this sector from R and D towards, the eventual commercialisation of tidal stream technology.
	In addition through the Energy Bill we are banding the Renewables Obligation to provide additional support to foster the development of these emerging technologies, this would double the incentive available to the marine sector.

Asylum

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps the Government has taken to improve the quality of the initial decision-making stage of asylum applications.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 2 June 2008
	The UK Border Agency has taken a number of steps to improve the quality of initial decision making. All asylum case owners undergo a comprehensive 55 day foundation training programme, and a period of mentoring within that programme. An independent quality audit team has been established that assesses asylum decisions on a monthly basis against a framework agreed with UNHCR. We are currently working with UNHCR in developing and piloting initiatives such as a decision making template.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition: Dover

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vehicles were stopped at the Port of Dover as a result of the use of automatic number plate recognition in the last 12 months.

Vernon Coaker: A total of 2,665 vehicles were stopped at the port of Dover as a result of the use of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) in 2007, the most recent timeframe for which figures are available: this also includes other agency use of ANPR.

Departmental Manpower

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of her Department's employees are  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority,  (d) disabled and  (e) not heterosexual; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Data showing volumes of staff declaring their gender, ethnicity, disability and sexuality (and their proportions of total staff) are in table 1. This data is valid as at the end of April 2008, and has been collected from Home Office Headquarters, UK Border Agency, Identity and Passport Service, and the Criminal Records Bureau.
	
		
			  Table 1: Proportion and numbers of staff declared by gender, BME identity, disability and sexuality. 
			   Proportion of staff (Percentage)  Proportion of staff (Declared) (Percentage)  Number of  s taff  Number of  s taff (Declared) 
			  Area  (a) Male  (b) Female  (c) BME  (d) Disabled  (e) Not  h eterosexual  (a) Male  (b) Female  (c) BME  (d) Disabled  (e) Not  h eterosexual 
			 HQ 52 48 23 6 5 1,785 1,631 372 87 40 
			 UKBA 45 55 27 4 2 8,251 10,085 2,967 722 168 
			 IPS 36 64 13.5 5.8 (1)— 1,383 2,485 524 224 (1)— 
			 CRB 42 58 1.7 3.3 (1)— 205 278 8 16 (1)— 
			 Total 45 55 15 4 1 11,624 14,479 3,871 1,049 208 
			 (1) Unavailable.

Departmental Training

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the staff in her Department who work on immigration matters have undertaken training in child protection.

Liam Byrne: The importance of appropriate training is recognised in the Code of Practice for Keeping Children Safe. A comprehensive training programme is being delivered and further developed to ensure that this is provided.
	At the end of May 2008, 7,667 UK Border Agency staff had used a core e-learning module aimed at increasing awareness of children who may be at risk of harm, and instructing them how to follow up in these situations. More business specific e-learning modules had been used by 8,267 staff. In addition, 133 two day courses had been delivered to 1,429 UK Border Agency staff who have direct contact with children as an integral part of their job.
	Both the e-learning and face-to-face workshop training are still being offered. The intention is that all UK Border Agency staff will complete the core e-learning; and all staff who have direct contact with children will complete both types of e-learning and the two day course.
	Specialist training will also be available shortly for those staff undertaking particular activities such as the interviewing of minors.

Departmental Vocational Training

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what proportion of its staff her Department has provided vocational training in the last three years.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office HQ, United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA), Identity and Passport Service (IPS), and the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) provide a range of vocational training.
	Data is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Deportation: Children

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many children who are British citizens have accompanied parents who are currently subject to removal or deportation directions;
	(2)  to which countries children who are British citizens accompanying their parents have been removed in the last two years;
	(3)  what information is given to Foreign and Commonwealth Office representatives in receiving countries by the UK Border Agency about children who are British citizens who have been removed or deported with their parents; and what assistance is offered to these children.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 4 June 2008
	The United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) does not remove or deport children who are British citizens.
	We invite parents who hail from a third country to take their UK born children with them when they return to their country of origin. This is only done if that is in the best interests of the child and all parties (parents, UKBA, UKBA Children's Champion and children's services) agree.
	Further advice on family removals is available in chapter 45 of the Enforcement Guidance and Instructions Manual. Copies of the document are placed in the Library of the House. It is also available to view at:
	www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/enforcement/oemsectione
	The information requested in PQ 207582 and PQ 207585 could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.
	The UKBA does not give any advice or assistance to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) representatives in receiving countries when parents take their UK born children with them when they return to their country of origin.

Entry Clearances

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  from which countries the Government does not require its nationals to hold a visa to enter the United Kingdom;
	(2)  what percentage of foreign nationals who entered the United Kingdom in each of the last five years did not require a visa to enter.

Liam Byrne: European economic area (EEA) nationals are entitled to free movement and do not require leave to enter the United Kingdom.
	There are two groups subject to immigration control known as visa nationals and non-visa nationals. A visa national needs entry clearance (a visa) to enter the UK in any circumstances. A non-visa national can come to the UK for less than six months as a visitor without a visa, subject to a number of exclusions such as marriage, study or medical treatment, but does need entry clearance to come to the UK for more than six months.
	At present, nationals of over 100 countries or territorial entities are visa nationals. The countries are set out in attached table, Appendix 1 to the immigration rules. The nationals of all other countries outside the EEA are non-visa nationals. The UK global visa regime is currently being reviewed as part of the visa waiver test. This is an assessment against a series of benchmarks, by which we will consider whether a visa regime should be maintained, lifted or imposed. The results of the test will be announced in due course.
	Data for the number of non-visa nationals and non-EEA nationals who entered the UK are available from 2004 to 2006; this is provided in the following table. Data is not available for earlier years. Statistics on non-EEA nationals entering the United Kingdom are published by reason for entry and main country of nationality in the yearly Command Paper "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom". This publication may be obtained from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research website:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	
		
			  Passengers given leave to enter the United Kingdom, excluding EEA( 1)  and Swiss nationals, 2004-06: United Kingdom 
			 Number of journeys 
			   2004( 1)  2005  2006( 2,)( )( 3) 
			 Total admitted(4) 12,000,000 11,800,000 12,900,000 
			  Of which:
			 Non-visa nationals not requiring a visa (Percentage)(5,6) 69 67 67 
			 (1) Includes nationals of Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia before 1 May 2004, but excludes them from this date. (2) Due to some gaps in the data from ports, estimates have been used. (3) Provisional data subject to change. (4) Data rounded to 3 significant digits and relate to the number of journeys made: a person who enters more than once is counted separately on each occasion. (5) Includes visitors, business visitors, contract seamen, passengers in transit and passengers returning after a temporary absence abroad. (6) Excludes a few non-visa nationals (less than 1 per cent.) where it is not possible to determine from administrative data whether prior entry clearance was required.

Entry Clearances

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons N. Lynn of the UK Immigration Service was unaware of the outstanding application submitted on 25th July 2007 by the hon. Member for Thurrock on behalf of applicant case reference N214395 and N1102544 (CTS Ref M13830/7) prior to the Border and Immigration Agency's attempt to detain the applicant; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 4 June 2008
	I am not aware of any outstanding application submitted on the 25 July 2007 but if my right hon. Friend would care to provide my office with fuller details, I will ask my officials to investigate.

Entry Clearances: Employment

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 8 January 2007,  Official Report, column 453W, on entry clearances: employment, what the 10 highest number of nationalities in each of the 20 occupations listed in the Answer were in each year.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is available from the publication described as follows.
	Work Permit information is published in the 'Foreign labour in the United Kingdom: current patterns and trends' report authored by John Salt and Jane Millar from the 'Migration Research Unit, University College London' and is available at the following website link:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/labour_market_trends/foreign_labour.pdf
	A copy will be placed in the House Library.

Immigration Controls

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors were taken into account in the Government's proposed amendments to the resident labour market test by selecting  (a) a two-week period for advertising jobs with earnings below £40,000,  (b) a one-week period for jobs with earnings above £40,000 and  (c) £40,000 as a threshold; and what research she (i) commissioned and (ii) evaluated on these proposals.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 19 May 2008
	The resident Labour market test (RLMT) under the points based system will help to ensure that we continue to protect the privileged position held by British workers in the job market.
	Details of how the RLMT will operate were set out in the recently published statement of intent on skilled workers under the points based system. This statement of intent was accompanied by a detailed impact assessment, both the statement of intent and the impact assessment are available on the UK Border Agency website and in the Libraries of both Houses.

Passports: Applications

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people have been interviewed in each of the operational passport interview centres since they opened;
	(2)  what the monthly operational cost is for each of the passport interview centres currently in use.

Meg Hillier: Over the past nine months, the Identity and Passport Service has been building, commissioning and progressively putting into live operation a network of 68 interview offices to establish the identity of first time adult passport applicants and reduce the level of fraudulent applications. The first offices were opened in June 2007, the 66th office was opened in January 2008 and the final office will be open in May. During the commissioning of new systems, people and offices, the volume of interviews has been constrained through selection by postcode and it is only next month that the network will be starting to operate at close to full capacity. The total number of people interviewed in these offices to end of March 2008 was 87,765 (including people who were involved in the live trial). In the financial year 2008-09, IPS expects to conduct a further 404,000 interviews, an average of 33,700 per month.
	The monthly cost of operating the interview office network, including office rental, security, IT systems, administrative overheads and staff is estimated at £2.50 million. This excludes the cost of depreciation of relevant capital expenditure. This means the average cost, excluding depreciation, will be about £74 per interview. Once the interview network is complete and operating at full capacity, I would be in a position to provide detail on number of customers interviewed and cost per interview for each office: these will vary considerably from office to office reflecting both size and location. These costs are spread across all passport customers rather than being recovered solely from first time adult applicants, and there is no plan to charge higher fees to customers of smaller offices where the unit cost is higher. The aforementioned unit cost spread across all passport applicants amounts to about £12.50 per person and this is a component of the current overall adult passport fee of £72.

UK Border Agency: Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the UK Border Agency will reply to the letter sent by the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, on 8th April 2008, on behalf of Mamta Devi (Home Office reference number D1104208).

Liam Byrne: The UK Border Agency (formerly the Border and Immigration Agency) wrote to the hon. Member on 9 May 2008.

Work Permits: Occupations

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the 20 most frequent occupations were of approved work permit applications in each of the last 20 years.

Liam Byrne: The following list shows the 20 most frequent occupations of approved work permit applications in each year since 2000. Data for periods prior to 2000 is not available.
	 Top 20 occupations of work permit applications approved (1 January to 31 December each year)
	 2000
	Nurse
	Other manager related occupations
	Other it related occupations
	Other financial occupations
	Other engineer occupations
	System analyst
	Other health/medical occupations
	Researcher
	Software engineer
	Accountant
	Teacher (school/college)
	Other education/cultural occupations
	Other hotel catering occupations
	Computer programmer
	Fashion (model)
	Marketing/sales manager
	Musician
	General manager
	Lecturer (university)
	Medical practitioner
	 2001
	Nurse
	Other manager related occupations
	Other it related occupations
	Teacher (school/college)
	Software engineer
	Other engineer occupations
	System analyst
	Other financial occupations
	Researcher
	Other health/medical occupations
	Analyst programmer
	Accountant
	Chef
	Marketing/sales manager
	Other hotel and catering occupations
	Fashion (model)
	Other education/cultural occupations
	Computer programmer
	General manager
	Project manager
	 2002
	Nurse
	Other manager related occupations
	Teacher (school/college)
	Other health/medical occupations
	Other it related occupations
	Software engineer
	Chef
	Other engineer occupations
	Researcher
	Analyst programmer
	Other financial occupations
	System analyst
	Doctor
	Other hotel and catering occupations
	Accountant
	Marketing/sales manager
	Other education/cultural occupations
	Fashion (model)
	Business analyst
	Project manager
	 2003
	Nurse
	Other manager related occupations
	Other health/medical occupations
	Chef
	Other it related occupations
	Teacher (school/college)
	Software engineer
	Other engineer occupations
	Researcher
	Other financial occupations
	System analyst
	Doctor
	Other hotel and catering occupations
	Analyst programmer
	Accountant
	Other education/cultural occupations
	Second chef
	Kitchen assistant - SBS
	Marketing/sales manager
	Head chef
	 2004
	Nurse
	Other manager related occupations
	Other health/medical occupations
	Other it related occupations
	Software engineer
	Chef
	Teacher (school/college)
	Other financial occupations
	Kitchen assistant - SBS
	Doctor
	Researcher
	Other engineer occupations
	Analyst programmer
	System analyst
	Other hotel and catering occupations
	Room attendant -SBS
	Meat process operative - SBS
	Cleaner of premises - SBS
	Waiting staff - SBS
	Accountant
	 2005
	Nurse
	Other manager related occupations
	Other it related occupations
	Other health/medical occupations
	Software engineer
	Other financial occupations
	Chef
	Other engineer occupations
	Teacher (school/college)
	Researcher
	Doctor
	System analyst
	Analyst programmer
	Senior carer
	Other hotel and catering occupations
	Accountant
	Other education/cultural occupations
	Meat process operative - SBS
	Food service operative - SBS
	Project manager
	 2006
	Other manager related occupations
	Other it related occupations
	Nurse
	Software engineer
	Other engineer occupations
	Other financial occupations
	Other health/medical occupations
	Chef
	Senior carer
	Researcher
	Teacher (school/college)
	Doctor
	Analyst programmer
	Other hotel and catering occupations
	System analyst
	Other education/cultural occupations
	Project manager
	Accountant
	Mushroom processor - SBS
	Marketing/sales manager
	 2007
	Other it related occupations
	Other manager related occupations
	Software engineer
	Other financial occupations
	Nurse
	Other engineer occupations
	Researcher
	Chef
	Teacher (school/college)
	Analyst programmer
	Other health/medical occupations
	System analyst
	Senior carer
	Project manager
	Other education/cultural occupations
	Other hotel and catering occupations
	Business analyst
	Marketing/sales manager
	Accountant
	Other legal occupation
	The data are not provided under national statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

Members: Home Addresses

Andrew MacKay: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 3 June 2008,  Official Report, column 807W, on Members: correspondence, if he will arrange for screening services similar to those provided at the House to be made available at hon. Members' home addresses.

Nick Harvey: Screening of mail at Members' home addresses would involve practical difficulties and incur significant extra cost. Members wishing to have mail addressed to their homes screened would have to arrange for it to be redirected to the House.

Children

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate his Department has made of the number of  (a) one to three year olds and  (b) three to five year olds in England in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Population projections are the responsibility of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the following table is based on their latest projection:
	
		
			  Population in England at mid-year by age at last birthday 
			  Thousand 
			   Age 1-3  Age  3-5 
			 2009 1,924 1,826 
			 2010 1,967 1,881 
			 2011 1,987 1,928 
			 2012 2,012 1,970 
			 2013 2,029 1,991 
			  Source:  ONS mid 2006 based principal population projection.

Literacy

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on international comparisons of functional illiteracy levels.

Jim Knight: The Secretary of State has commissioned the National Foundation for Educational Research to supply data on the performance of fifteen-year-olds in schools in England for the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's programme for international student assessment (PISA 2006).
	In PISA the term literacy' is defined as the extent to which students have acquired the ability to put their knowledge to functional use in different situations in adult life. It assesses students' knowledge on a three-year cycle, with each cycle focusing mainly on one of three areas: reading literacy, mathematical literacy and scientific literacy. Scientific literacy was the main focus of PISA 2006, with mathematical and reading literacy as the two minor domains.
	For reading literacy, 6,8 per cent. of English students scored below PISA level 1, which was slightly less than the OECD average of 7.4 per cent.
	For scientific literacy, 4.9 per cent. of English students scored below PISA level 1, compared with an OECD average of 5.2 per cent. and for mathematical literacy, 6.0 per cent. of students scored below PISA level 1, which was slightly less than the OECD average of 7.7 per cent.